The internal stance of befriending yourself as a compassionate witness during the disorientation of betrayal, drawing from bhakti's multiple modes of relating to the divine.
In bhakti, there are multiple relationships to the Divine: devotee to Lord, child to parent, lover to beloved, and friend to friend. Sakh-bhav—the attitude of friendship—is unique because it is the most equal, most honest relationship. A friend tells you the truth without shielding you from pain or flattering you into delusion. After affairs and broken trust, people often internalize harsh judgment (harsh parent), despair (abandoned child), or obsessive seeking (rejected lover). Sakh-bhav invites a different internal witness: one who can say, "Yes, you were deceived. Yes, your trust was broken. And you are still here, still learning, still capable." This internal friend is neither permissive nor punishing but clear-eyed and steady. Practically, this might involve journaling as a conversation with your truest self, creating space for the voice that knows both your vulnerability and your strength. Mirabai's poetry often moves between these modes, finding in friendship a form of love that survives betrayal.
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